Okay, folks, let’s dive into my latest project: replicating the Jaeger-LeCoultre JLC Atmos Marqueterie Quote clock. It’s been a wild ride, and I’m here to share all the nitty-gritty details with you.
First off, I started by digging around for any info I could find on Atmos clocks. Turns out, they’ve been around forever! I even found some sweet vintage pieces from the 70s and 80s on eBay, and honestly, I liked some of those designs even more. That got the gears in my head turning, thinking about how I could put my own spin on this.
Then, I started getting serious about the replication process. I knew I wanted to capture the essence of the Atmos 568 designed by Marc Newson. Man, that design is something else! I spent hours just staring at pictures of it, trying to figure out how they put the whole thing together. I remembered seeing it at the SIHH a few weeks ago, and it just blew me away.
I knew I needed to understand the mechanics, too. These clocks are famous for their “revolutionary mechanism” – that’s what they call it, anyway. Apparently, some guy named Jean-Lon Reutter invented it back in the 1920s, and then Jaeger-LeCoultre brought it to life in the 1930s. Pretty cool history, right?
- So, my first step was to get my hands on as many detailed images and diagrams of the Atmos 568 as I could.
- Next, I started sketching out my own plans. I decided I wanted to incorporate some of that vintage vibe from the older models I saw online.
- Then came the fun part – or maybe I should say the frustrating part – trying to source the materials. It is not very easy to find them!
- Once I had everything I needed, I began the painstaking process of building the clock. It definitely was not a walk in the park!
I hit a few bumps along the way, I will not lie. There were times when I wanted to throw my tools across the room and give up. But I kept pushing, kept tinkering, and kept learning. I had to re-do a few parts more times than I’d like to admit, but hey, that’s all part of the process, right?
The final step was the finishing touches. I spent days just fine-tuning everything, making sure it all looked just right. Finally, I had done it. I did it! My very own, handmade Atmos clock. It might not be perfect, but I’m darn proud of it.
But I still want to get it work more consistently, so I will go to the nearest authorised JLC retailer for repair some time.
This whole project has been a real labor of love, and I’m so stoked to finally share it with you all. Hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I did!
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